Drones funded by the United Kingdom have contributed to the interception of over 900 migrants and smugglers attempting to cross into Europe via the Western Balkans, according to data from local authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The state-of-the-art technology, financed by British taxpayers, is being utilized by Bosnian and Herzegovinian authorities to monitor challenging and remote terrain, including areas known to be infested with mines.
People smugglers have historically exploited the Western Balkan route to circumvent detection, with some migrants ultimately reaching Britain by crossing the English Channel. The Foreign Office stated that the drones have been instrumental in operations that led to the apprehension of numerous individuals involved in human trafficking. In the past year, dozens of traffickers have been arrested in the region, including those operating a network that reportedly smuggled approximately 100 migrants to Europe weekly.
Europe Minister Stephen Doughty, who recently met with law enforcement officials and prosecutors in the region, emphasized the transnational nature of the issue. "People smuggling gangs do not stop at borders, so neither can our response," Doughty said. "Through close cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina and partners across the Western Balkans, we have helped support the arrests of multiple smugglers, disrupting the networks that profit from human misery."
The Western Balkan route is commonly used by migrants from countries such as Sudan, Afghanistan, and Syria – nationalities frequently encountered attempting to cross the Channel, a Foreign Office spokesperson noted.
In 2022, over 145,000 crossings were recorded along the Balkan route, which encompasses territories including Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, and Croatia. However, according to the European Union border agency Frontex, numbers have significantly decreased to less than 15,000 in 2025 due to enhanced security measures.